1-THE
TRIBULATION: WHAT IS IT?

RAPTURE
is a term used to describe the removal from the earth of all living people that
have been born-again as evidenced by their fruits. Just prior to the
Tribulation coming about, the Rapture will take place. The number that will
be raptured will be far fewer than most people might think. The Bible unmistakably
portrays the raptured saints in heaven before the throne of God, prior to the
Antichrist coming forth and the Tribulation beginning. The Scripture tells us,
in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed and be with Jesus in the air.
1 Cor 15:51,52-WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT
IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND;
1 Thes 4:16,17-AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST, THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE
AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS. We may be asleep,
immediately we will be with Jesus. All the unbelievers, the lukewarm Christians,
and those that did not obey the Gospel will be left to face the Tribulation.
(FOR AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE RAPTURE—CLICK HERE.)

THE
TRIBULATION is the worst time in history since man has been on the earth.
Immediately following the Rapture, the man of sin (called the Antichrist)
comes forth and assumes control of the EEC. He can be expected to be very charismatic
and brilliant. He confirms a treaty with Israel and others, which begins the
Tribulation.

It
is a 7 year period, but the Lord has cut it short-ref Mk 13:20; Ro 9:28. We
are not setting a date; however, we are now living in that generation in which
this will happen. Hate, murder, thefts, rape, and every imaginable form of evil
will abound. During this horrible period of God’s wrath, Russia, Iran, and other
nations will come against Israel. The USA becomes involved. One-fourth of the
world’s population will die. Many of the dead will be from the USA, as well
as Russia. One-third of trees are burned up. All green grass is burned up. One-third
of the sea will become blood. One-third of the creatures in the sea will die.
One-third of the ships are destroyed. One-third of the waters become wormwood
(or poisoned, or radioactive). Massive famines, increased earthquakes, and more
diseases will happen as birth pangs of a woman. Those left alive will have opportunities
to receive Jesus through the preaching of 144,000 male, virgin Jews; however,
death by decapitation lies ahead for most that put their trust in Jesus, unless
they renounce their faith. There will also be many false Christs and false prophets.
A one-world, false religion that God calls MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER
OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH will increase. This religion has existed
for hundreds of years and exists today. The nations of the world have become
intoxicated with her false teachings. The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt.About 3½ years from the end
of the Tribulation, the Antichrist (also called the beast) is killed with a
wound in the head by a weapon, but his deadly wound will be healed. He will
come back to life. He then declares himself to be God and moves into the temple
in Jerusalem. A false prophet appears that will do great wonders. The sacrifices
at the temple will be stopped. The abomination of desolation occurs. An image
of the Antichrist will be set on a wing of the temple. Those that refuse to
worship it will be beheaded. The elect born-again Jews now flee for their
lives to a place where God will hide them and take care of them during the last
three and a half years. Power is given to the Antichrist over all kindreds,
and tongues, and nations. All that dwell on the earth shall worship the Antichrist,
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb. During these last
three and a half years (called the Great Tribulation), world conditions will
continue to worsen. A one-world system will be set up. The Antichrist shall
make war against the saints and will overcome them. People will be required
to take the mark of the Antichrist or the number of his name (666) in
or on their forehead or right hand. If they refuse, they cannot buy or
sell. Two prophets of God will appear. One of them is Elijah. Their ministry
lasts 1260 days. They warn people not to take the mark or worship the image.
There is no forgiveness from God afterward for those that take the mark and
worship the image. They will go to the eternal lake of fire. These two witnesses
have the power to shut up heaven that it rain not during their days on the earth.
They have the power to bring all kinds of plagues on the earth. Multitudes will
be slain for the Word of God. Locusts will sting men with a sting like a scorpion.
It will be so bad that men will seek death and shall not find it. There will
be terrible sores upon men. The rivers and fountains will become blood. Men
will be scorched with great heat. Earthquakes continue to get worse and worse.
Diseases will continue to get worse and worse. Two hundred million troops will
march to Israel from the east and cross the dried up Euphrates River. One-third
more of the earth’s population will be killed. After the 1260 days, the two
prophets of God will be killed. People will rejoice, but then after three and
a half days, they will arise and ascend up to heaven as people watch. Great
fear falls on those that see this. Men will be so terrified that their hearts
will fail, as they consider what is about to happen. Multitudes will hide in
the rocks and say, "FALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM...HIM (Jesus)…FOR THE GREAT
DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?"-Rev 6:16,17.

IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days,
the Battle of Armageddon explodes. It lasts one day. The kings and armies of
the earth are gathered to make war against Jesus. Jesus Christ returns as the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords with all His saints. If He had not returned
exactly when He did, there should be no life left on earth. The Antichrist and
false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire. Satan is chained for one
thousand years, so he can deceive the nations no longer till the thousand years
be fulfilled. Every force of nature is likely to be unleashed at once, including
killer tornadoes, hurricanes, tidal waves, lightning encircling the earth, and
the biggest earthquake in mankind’s history. The cities and the mountains of
the world will crumble. The Bible tells that every island fled away. The mountains
were not found. There is great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight
of 70 to l00 pounds. The earth will move out of its place. At the end of that
one day, there are so few people left alive that a child could write the number.

2-THE
TRIBULATION: WHY IS IT COMING?

Ezek 34:16

Destroy the fat
and the strong of Israel

Ezek 34:16

To feed Israel with
judgment

Isa 17:4-11

Because thou hast
forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the
Rock of thy strength

Dan 9:24

To seal up the vision
and prophecy

Dan 9:24

To anoint the most
Holy

Rev 7:9,13,14

To bring people
to Jesus Christ

Rev 14:12

That they should
keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus

Jere 30:14,15

Because thy sins
were increased. For the multitude of thine iniquity…have I done these
things unto thee.

Jude 15

To execute judgment

Jude 15

To convince all
that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds, which they have
ungodly committed

Isa 13:9

To destroy the sinners
(out of the land)

Isa 13:11

To punish the world
for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity

Lk 21:24

To bring to an end
the times of the Gentiles (Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled)

Isa 61:2

To proclaim...the
day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn

Deut 4:29,30

To cause the Jewish
people to seek Jesus and to be obedient to His voice

Ezek 36:22,23

For God’s holy name
sake, to sanctify My great name

Lk 21:22

That all things
which are written may be fulfilled

3-THE
TRIBULATION: THE NAMES FROM THE BIBLE

Isa 28:21

His strange act

Mk 13:19

It is a time of (affliction)

Isa 28:22

A consumption
upon the whole earth

Mt 24:22

Those days

Lk 21:22

The days of vengeance

Rev 3:10

The hour of temptation

Dan 11:36

The indignation
(also Isa 26:20; Dan 8:19; Ezek 22:24)

Dan 2:40

The fourth kingdom

Jn 9:4

The night

Mt 24:8

The beginning of sorrows

Dan 12:1

The time of trouble

Jere 30:7

The time of Jacob’s
trouble

Mk 13:24

The Tribulation
(also Mt 24:29)

Mt 24:21

Great Tribulation
(also Rev 2:22; Rev 7:14)

Dan 9:27

(The seventieth week)
One week

Isa 28:21

His work His
strange work

1 Thes 1:10

The wrath to
come

Pv 11:4

The day of wrath

4-THE
TRIBULATION: A TIME OF GOD'S WRATH

Twelve times the word wrath is used in connection with the Tribulation
or with the Battle of Armageddon in the KJV. In addition, it is used four
more times in the NIV.

Rev 6:16

The wrath of the Lamb

Rev 6:17

The great day of His
wrath is come

Rev 11:18

Thy wrath is come

Rev 14:10

The wrath of God

Rev 14:19

The wrath of God

Rev 15:1

The wrath of God

Rev 15:7

The wrath of God

Rev 16:1

The wrath of God

Rev 16:19

His wrath

Rev 19:15

The...wrath of Almighty
God

5-SOME
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES ARE:

1 Thes 1:10

The wrath to come

Pv 11:4

The day of wrath

Dan 8:19

The time of wrath-NIV

Dan 11:36

The time of wrath-NIV

Isa 26:20

His wrath-NIV

Jere 30:7

The time of Jacob’s
trouble

Dan 12:1

A time of trouble

Lk 21:22

The days of vengeance

6-THE
TRIBULATION LENGTH

The seventieth week of Daniel (which is also called the Tribulation) is clearly
outlined as being seven years long. This can be further broken down, through
other verses, into 84 months or 2520 days. It is further portrayed as being
split into parts. The dividing point is when the sacrifices at the temple are
stopped. This is defined by Daniel 9:27, as the "midst" of the Tribulation.Since seven years consist of
84 months, it can be assumed that each part of the Tribulation will be 3 ½ years,
or 42 months, or 1260 days. Nevertheless, let us not forget, that God’s calendar
should be used.

7-THE
LORD SHORTENED THOSE DAYS:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

In Mk 13:6-19, events of the Tribulation are described. Then in verse 20, Jesus
spoke these words, AND EXCEPT THAT THE LORD HAD SHORTENED (or limited the duration
of, or cut short) THOSE DAYS (of the trouble), NO FLESH SHOULD BE SAVED (no
one would survive): BUT FOR THE ELECT’S SAKE, WHOM HE HATH CHOSEN, HE HATH SHORTENED
(or limited) THE DAYS. Jesus describes the Tribulation
and then makes the statement, "shortened those days." What does this
mean? Did He shorten it from more than seven years down to seven years? Will
the 7 x 360 day periods be shortened to less than this? Will it be shortened
only a few hours? It may be noted that Jesus said, "shortened those days."
Days is plural, which may denote more than one. Could the days represent years?
Could He have shortened the years or number of years?It may be noted with interest
that every time the Scriptures refer to how many days, months, or years are
in either part of the Tribulation, it always seems to be the second part. The
second part is 1260 days. The second part is 42 months. The second part is 3
1/2 years. Many times in the Scriptures we are told the length of the second
part. We never seem to be told the exact length of the first part. (Note, some
Bible scholars may not agree with the alignment of events; thus, they might
disagree with this statement.)In Daniel, the Bible indicates
seven years or seven time periods. Then the words "IN THE MIDST" are
used, indicating the middle. From this point on, we are told over and over that
it will be 42 months, or 1260 days, or 3 1/2 years. Why do the Scriptures never
come out and say the length of the first part? Since we know the second part
is 1260 days and we know the Scriptures tell us, in Dan 9:27, "IN THE MIDST
OF THE WEEK," we automatically take it for granted that the first part
of the Tribulation will be the exact length as the second part: 1260 days, which
equals a total of 2520 days, or 7 x 360 day periods or years. Yet we are still
faced with the situation that the Bible does not seem to actually say 1260 days
for the first part. Then we are faced with the words "HAD SHORTENED THOSE
DAYS" and "HE HATH SHORTENED THE DAYS"-Mk 13:20.There seems to be no doubt
that, in some way, "THE LORD HAD SHORTENED (or limited the duration of,
or cut short) THOSE DAYS." "Those days" being referred to here
are the Tribulation. But how does He do this, and by how much?We might conclude that the
shortening could actually come from the first part of the Tribulation, rather
than the second part. This might be further substantiated in the fact that the
Scriptures tell us, BUT WHEN YE SHALL SEE THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION...FLEE
TO THE MOUNTAINS-Mk 13:14. Why didn’t Jesus just say to count 1260 days from
the beginning of the Tribulation, which was the confirming of the covenant?-ref
Dan 9:27. It certainly would seem much simpler to do it this way. When 1260
days approach, then flee. Yet Jesus did not do this. He said, WHEN YE SHALL
SEE THE ABOMINATION...FLEE. This indicates that the abomination will not come
at the time we might expect, that is, 1260 days into the Tribulation. If this
is true, could it be because the first part of the Tribulation has been shortened?
In such a case, the "elect" would have to look for this event. They
could not calculate, in number of days, exactly when the abomination would happen.
This event may occur after a much shorter time than 1260 days from the beginning
of the Tribulation (if the first part of the Tribulation is shortened).This book is not saying this
is the way it will be, but simply asking the question, is this possible, even
probable?Again, we see, in the Gospel
according to Matthew, the words, WHEN YE THEREFORE SHALL SEE THE ABOMINATION
OF DESOLATION, SPOKEN OF BY DANIEL THE PROPHET...FLEE-Mt 24:15,16. Once more,
no mention is made of 1260 days, or 42 months, or 3 1/2 years. Thus, we ask,
is it possible according to the Scriptures, that the seventieth week of Daniel
will be shortened? and the part that will actually be shortened will be the
first part? (which we presume to be 1260 days, yet is never actually stated
as being thus).

The
following verses show clearly that the length of the second part of the Tribulation
is 1260 days, or 42 months, or 3 1/2 years.

Dan
7:25 AND THEY SHALL BE GIVEN INTO HIS
HAND UNTIL A TIME AND TIMES AND THE DIVIDING OF TIME. This is the second
part of the Tribulation, 3 1/2 years. The Antichrist shall
make war with the saints, and they shall be given into his hand.

Dan
12:7 THAT IT SHALL BE FOR A TIME, TIMES,
AND AN HALF, AND WHEN HE SHALL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TO SCATTER THE POWER OF THE
HOLY PEOPLE, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FINISHED. Again this is talking about
the second part of the Tribulation, 3 ½ years. The
Antichrist shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people.

Rev
12:14 WHERE SHE IS NOURISHED FOR A TIME,
AND TIMES, AND HALF A TIME, FROM THE FACE OF THE SERPENT. Again, we see the
length of the second part of the Tribulation is 3 1/2 years.
Israel is told to flee, when they see the abomination of desolation, to a place
where God will take care of them.

Rev
11:2 BUT THE COURT THAT IS WITHOUT THE
TEMPLE LEAVE OUT, AND MEASURE IT NOT; FOR IT IS GIVEN UNTO THE GENTILES: AND
THE HOLY CITY SHALL THEY TREAD UNDER FOOT FORTY AND TWO MONTHS. Again, we see
the length of the second part of the Tribulation. It is 42
months. This is the same as the 3 1/2 years already mentioned. The court
without the temple is given to the Gentiles.

Rev
13:5 AND POWER WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM (unto
the Antichrist) TO CONTINUE FORTY AND TWO MONTHS. Once again, we note that the
second part of the Tribulation is 42 months.

Rev
11:3 AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY A THOUSAND
TWO HUNDRED AND THREESCORE DAYS. This 1260 days relates to the
length of time that the two prophets of God shall prophesy. Again we note, what
appears to be the length of the second part of the Tribulation.

Rev
12:6 AND THE WOMAN (Israel) FLED INTO
THE WILDERNESS, WHERE SHE HATH A PLACE PREPARED OF GOD, THAT THEY SHOULD FEED
HER THERE A THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND THREESCORE DAYS. This verse goes with Rev
12:14. This is Israel fleeing when they see the abomination of desolation. Once
more, we see the length of the second part of the Tribulation is 1260 days.

Over
and over the Scriptures give us the length of the second part of the Tribulation.
Is it possible that the exact length of the first part may not be given, as
it will be shortened? Is it possible this is why the Jews must look for the
abomination of desolation to happen, rather than being able to simply count
1260 days from the beginning of the Tribulation?Does God give us another verse
to back up the verse, "He hath shortened the days"? It is written,
ESAIAS ALSO CRIETH CONCERNING ISRAEL, THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, A REMNANT SHALL BE SAVED: FOR HE WILL FINISH THE
WORK (the Tribulation), AND CUT IT SHORT IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: BECAUSE A SHORT WORK
(the Tribulation) WILL THE LORD MAKE UPON THE EARTH. Note the words, "CUT
IT SHORT"-Ro 9:27,28.AND AS ESAIAS SAID BEFORE,
EXCEPT THE LORD OF SABAOTH (or Lord Almighty) HAD LEFT US A SEED, WE HAD BEEN
AS SODOMA, AND BEEN MADE LIKE UNTO GOMORRHA-Ro 9:29. EXCEPT THE LORD OF HOSTS
HAD LEFT UNTO US A VERY SMALL REMNANT (or some survivors), WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
AS SODOM, AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE UNTO GOMORRAH-Isa 1:9.This is very much in harmony
with Mk 13:20, which has told us that the days had been shortened for the ELECT’S
SAKE. If those days had not been shortened, NO FLESH SHOULD BE SAVED. In Ro
9:27, we read, A REMNANT SHALL BE SAVED.Does God give us a third verse
to back this all up? It is written, Mt 24:22-AND EXCEPT THOSE DAYS SHOULD BE
SHORTENED (or if the length of this time had not been limited-JNT,8
or cut short), THERE SHOULD NO FLESH BE SAVED (no one would survive): BUT FOR
THE ELECT’S SAKE (those who have been chosen-JNT9) THOSE DAYS SHALL
BE SHORTENED (its length will be limited-JNT10).In view of all these Scriptures,
it might be asked, "How much has the Tribulation been shortened?"
The Scriptures appear to give us no way to know.